Close to Perfect

I was still bummin' over My Lucky Stars, but you've got to get back on the horse that throwed you, so I checked out So Close, another Hong Kong action film, from the public library. Good move.

Directed by Corey Yuen (Transporter, fight choreography for Kiss of the Dragon), it features 2 gorgeous sisters - a glamorous, high-kicking assassin (Qi Shu), and a cute hacker (Wei Zhao). They inherited an all-seeing satellite surveillance system from their murdered parents, and use it to kill for money and justice. They are pursued by policewoman Karen Mok.

The fights are tight, with lots of slow-mo wirework and stunts. Example: Qi Shu kicks the guns out of two attackers hands, leaps into the air, and catches the guns while upside down. When her high heels touch the ceiling, they shoot out piton, so she can hang from the ceiling and shoot up the room. She then leaves the building as her sister jams the intercom with "Close to You". The movie is full of this kind of thing.

In between times, we have several soppy subplots: Elder sister falls in love and wants to quit the business. Younger sister wants to get out from behind the computer. Both sisters mourn dead parents. Cakes are bought. This kind of melodrama seems a little out of place, but since it's played out by sexy women in skimpy outfits, the boys won't complain.

The sisters are great, but Karen Mok is really something. She has a slightly jolie-laid face, a little horsey, say like Janeane Garofalo. She plays it very plain, fresh scrubbed, sharp. She invites her nerdy assistant to sharpen his wits by engaging in intellectual wordplay (she asks him when he masturbated last). She is a kick.

There are also a few cute themes running through the movie, like a video camera that younger sister uses to film her family. It is used like a photo album might be in an older movie, but also anchors this movie in the present day. I've seen this in several HK movies - cell phones mix-ups, for instance. It both assumes both novelty and familiarity with new technologies. Interesting trope.

Anyway, if you like slick modern action movies, lovely women kicking butt, and don't mind a little melodrama - this is for you.